Alexander McQueen: Dandy Highway Girls & Disco Paradiso at McQueen
By Melanie Rickey
Photos by FW

PARIS, Oct 8, 2002/ --- Alexander McQueen hired John Maybury - director of the 1998 Francis Bacon biopic ‘Love is the Devil’ and Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” video - to direct three short films to go with the presentation of his Spring 2003 collection in Paris late last night.

The films, art directed by McQueen, neatly sliced the collection into three distinct moods.

The first was a medieval shipwreck.

McQueen used tough brown embossed leather, heavy brocades, and washed out muslin to dress tough chicks as sexy highway women in turned over knee-boots, leather micro minis, flowing wench blouses, frock coats, plus fours, bodices and cropped leather jackets.

The girls, with their tattered hair and crying eyes, then appeared as ghostly mermaids in exquisite nude chiffon ballgowns with tattered fronds that dragged across the floor.

Film two was a “Blair Witch”-like trip into dark woodland populated by flashing eyed nymphs dressed like Elizabethan Inquisadors, or as boyish French aristocrats.

A swirly embroidered chiffon cape, shredded full skirts, a trench, a strapless cocktail dress the frock coat to end all frock coats, mousseline draped knee pants, and an ingenious black cut-out patterned catsuit were highlights.

McQueen, who looked super-tan, trim and smart in a white cotton trouser suit and beaten up Nike high tops backstage, is clearly in full creative flow, the craftsmanship was superb, the looks honed to perfection.

Just as it seemed like another classic McQueen goth fest had come to an end, however, he pulled a coup: he went disco.

To Earth Wind and Fire’s “Fantasy,” and heat-sensitive film showing catwalking models, the finale set-piece was a kaleidoscopic fashion romp.

Or to be more precise, he dressed a modern high-glam Studio 54 babe in gowns to rival the plumage of a tropical bird.

There were great satin wide leg cargo pants in bright yellow and lime green, and a loose turquoise satin jumpsuit.

Ever more colorful flowing dresses inspired by birds appeared, the standout, a full length fine silk cape dress on Frankie Rayder opened like wings and then folded into nothing.

These are the pieces McQueen’s fashionable fans have been waiting for.

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen